![George W. Bush And Laura Bush White House Portrait Unveiling George W. Bush And Laura Bush White House Portrait Unveiling](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/bush-sisters.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
Malia and Sasha, eight years ago on a cold November day, we greeted you on the steps of the White House. We saw both the light and wariness in your eyes as you gazed at your new home. We left our jobs in Baltimore and New York early and traveled to Washington to show you around. To show you the Lincoln Bedroom, and the bedrooms that were once ours, to introduce you to all the people—the florists, the grounds-keepers and the butlers—who dedicate themselves to making this historic house a home. The four of us wandered the majestic halls of the house you had no choice but to move in to. When you slid down the banister of the solarium, just as we had done as 8-year-olds and again as 20-year-olds chasing our youth, your joy and laughter were contagious.
In eight years, you have done so much. Seen so much. You stood at the gates of the Robben Island cell where South Africa’s Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades, your arms around your father. You traveled to Liberia and Morocco with your mom to talk with girls about the importance of education—girls who saw themselves in you, saw themselves in your parents, saw who they could become if they continued to study and learn. You attended state dinners, hiked in national parks, met international leaders and managed to laugh at your dad’s jokes during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, all while being kids, attending school and making friends. We have watched you grow from girls to impressive young women with grace and ease.
And through it all you had each other. Just like we did.
Now you are about to join another rarified club, one of former First Children—a position you didn’t seek and one with no guidelines. But you have so much to look forward to. You will be writing the story of your lives, beyond the shadow of your famous parents, yet you will always carry with you the experiences of the past eight years.
Read Life at 1600: Advice from Team Obama to Team Trump
Never forget the wonderful people who work at the White House. Our greeter as 7-year-olds at our grandfather’s Inauguration was Nancy, the White House florist, who ushered us in from the cold. She helped us make colorful bouquets of winter flowers for our grandparents’ bedside. Twenty years later, Nancy did the flowers for Jenna’s wedding. Cherish your own Nancy. We stay in touch with our Secret Service. They were part of growing up for us: there for first dates, first days and even an engagement and a honeymoon. We know it wasn’t always easy—the two of you and the two of us were teenagers trailed by men in backpacks—but they put their lives on hold for us.
Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did. And you won’t have the weight of the world on your young shoulders anymore. Explore your passions. Learn who you are. Make mistakes—you are allowed to. Continue to surround yourself with loyal friends who know you, adore you and will fiercely protect you. Those who judge you don’t love you, and their voices shouldn’t hold weight. Rather, it’s your own hearts that matter.
Growing Up Obama: Malia and Sasha Through the Years
![Senate Hopeful Barack Obama Waits For Election Results Senate Hopeful Barack Obama Waits For Election Results](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Behind The Scenes With Senator Barack Obama Behind The Scenes With Senator Barack Obama](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US Democratic presidential candidate Ill US Democratic presidential candidate Ill](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Malia, left, and Sasha Obama at the airport to see their parents off. The Obamas and Bidens were flying from Denver, CO to Pennsylvania to begin a three day bus tour in PA and OH. 20080829. Photo by Callie Shell/Aurora for Time.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-growing-up.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![CM - Obama-Apr 13, 2009CM - Obama_4_13_09 Repeats CM - Obama-Apr 13, 2009CM - Obama_4_13_09 Repeats](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-04.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![In this official White House photograph, President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, attend the Christmas in Washington taping at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2011.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![President Barack Obama and his daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama takes the stage to deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Tuesday night, Sept. 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Barack Obama Sworn In As U.S. President For A Second Term Barack Obama Sworn In As U.S. President For A Second Term](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Nov. 26, 2014"The President and his daughters Malia and Sasha look at 'Mac' the turkey in the East Room prior to the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey pardon ceremony at the White House. The President pardoned 'Cheese' publicly, though both 'Mac' and 'Cheese' were spared to live out their life at a farm in Ohio." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![ITALY-US-OBAMA-VISIT ITALY-US-OBAMA-VISIT](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-09.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-POLITICS-OBAMA US-POLITICS-OBAMA](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![President Obama Delivers Farewell Address In Chicago President Obama Delivers Farewell Address In Chicago](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sasha-malia-obama.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
Take all that you have seen, the people you have met, the lessons you have learned, and let that help guide you in making positive change. We have no doubt you will. Traveling with our parents taught us more than any class could. It opened our eyes to new people as well as new cultures and ideas. We met factory workers in Michigan, teachers in California, doctors healing people on the Burmese border, kids who lined the dusty streets of Kampala to see the American President, and kids with HIV waiting to get the antiretroviral drugs that would save their lives. One tiny girl wearing her finest lavender dress looked young, which she was not. She was little because she was sick. Her mom admitted that she might not live to see these drugs work, but her brothers and sisters would. After meeting this girl, Barbara went back to school and changed her major, and her life’s path.
You have lived through the unbelievable pressure of the White House. You have listened to harsh criticism of your parents by people who had never even met them. You stood by as your precious parents were reduced to headlines. Your parents, who put you first and who not only showed you but gave you the world. As always, they will be rooting for you as you begin your next chapter. And so will we.
Barbara Bush is a co-founder and the CEO of Global Health Corps. Jenna Bush Hager is a correspondent for the Today show.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Melinda French Gates Is Going It Alone
- What to Do if You Can’t Afford Your Medications
- How to Buy Groceries Without Breaking the Bank
- Sienna Miller Is the Reason to Watch Horizon
- Why So Many Bitcoin Mining Companies Are Pivoting to AI
- The 15 Best Movies to Watch on a Plane
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com